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Febrile Neutropenia in Transplant Recipients. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [PMCID: PMC7122322 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9034-4_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Febrile neutropenic patients are at increased risk of developing infections. During the initial stages of neutropenia, most of these infections are bacterial. The spectrum of bacterial infections depends to some extent on whether or not patients receive antimicrobial prophylaxis when neutropenic. Since most transplant recipients do, Gram-positive organisms predominate, due to the fact prophylaxis is directed primarily against Gram-negative organisms. Staphylococcus species (often methicillin-resistant), Streptococcus species (viridans group streptococci, beta-hemolytic streptococci), and Enterococcus species (including vancomycin-resistant strains) are isolated most often. Therefore, potent empiric Gram-positive coverage is recommended by many in this setting. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella species are the most common Gram-negative pathogens isolated. Non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter species) are emerging as important pathogens. Many of these organisms acquire multiple mechanisms of resistance that render them multidrug resistant. The administration of prompt, broad-spectrum, empiric, antimicrobial therapy is essential and is generally based on local epidemiology and susceptibility/resistance patterns. Response rate to the initial regimen is generally in the range of 75–85%. Fungal infections develop in patients with prolonged neutropenia (greater than 7–10 days). Candida species and Aspergillus species are the predominant fungal pathogens, although many other fungi are opportunistic pathogens in this setting. Fungal infections are seldom documented microbiologically or on histopathology, and the administration of empiric antifungal therapy, when such infections are suspected, is the norm. Therapy is often prolonged, and outcomes are still suboptimal. The importance of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship cannot be overemphasized.
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Heinz WJ, Buchheidt D, Christopeit M, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Cornely OA, Einsele H, Karthaus M, Link H, Mahlberg R, Neumann S, Ostermann H, Penack O, Ruhnke M, Sandherr M, Schiel X, Vehreschild JJ, Weissinger F, Maschmeyer G. Diagnosis and empirical treatment of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in adult neutropenic patients: guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO). Ann Hematol 2017; 96:1775-1792. [PMID: 28856437 PMCID: PMC5645428 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-017-3098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fever may be the only clinical symptom at the onset of infection in neutropenic cancer patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy. A prompt and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approach is mandatory. A systematic search of current literature was conducted, including only full papers and excluding allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Recommendations for diagnosis and therapy were developed by an expert panel and approved after plenary discussion by the AGIHO. Randomized clinical trials were mainly available for therapeutic decisions, and new diagnostic procedures have been introduced into clinical practice in the past decade. Stratification into a high-risk versus low-risk patient population is recommended. In high-risk patients, initial empirical antimicrobial therapy should be active against pathogens most commonly involved in microbiologically documented and most threatening infections, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but excluding coagulase-negative staphylococci. In patients whose expected duration of neutropenia is more than 7 days and who do not respond to first-line antibacterial treatment, specifically in the absence of mold-active antifungal prophylaxis, further therapy should be directed also against fungi, in particular Aspergillus species. With regard to antimicrobial stewardship, treatment duration after defervescence in persistently neutropenic patients must be critically reconsidered and the choice of anti-infective agents adjusted to local epidemiology. This guideline updates recommendations for diagnosis and empirical therapy of fever of unknown origin in adult neutropenic cancer patients in light of the challenges of antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- W J Heinz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Würzburg Medical Center, Würzburg, Germany
| | - D Buchheidt
- Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany
| | - M Christopeit
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital UKE, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - O A Cornely
- Department I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, partner site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Clinical Trials Centre Cologne, ZKS Köln, Cölogne, Germany.,Center for Integrated Oncology CIO Köln-Bonn, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - H Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Würzburg Medical Center, Würzburg, Germany
| | - M Karthaus
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Neuperlach and Klinikum Harlaching, München, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Harlaching, Munich, Germany
| | - H Link
- Hematology and Medical Oncology Private Practice, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - R Mahlberg
- Klinikum Mutterhaus der Borromäerinnen, Trier, Germany
| | - S Neumann
- Medical Oncology, AMO MVZ, Wolfsburg, Germany
| | - H Ostermann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - O Penack
- Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Ruhnke
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Paracelsus-Klinik, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - M Sandherr
- Hematology and Oncology Practice, Weilheim, Germany
| | - X Schiel
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Harlaching, Munich, Germany
| | - J J Vehreschild
- Department I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, partner site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - F Weissinger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - G Maschmeyer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann, Potsdam, Germany.
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Abstract
Bacterial pneumonias exact unacceptable morbidity on patients with cancer. Although the risk is often most pronounced among patients with treatment-induced cytopenias, the numerous contributors to life-threatening pneumonias in cancer populations range from derangements of lung architecture and swallow function to complex immune defects associated with cytotoxic therapies and graft-versus-host disease. These structural and immunologic abnormalities often make the diagnosis of pneumonia challenging in patients with cancer and impact the composition and duration of therapy. This article addresses host factors that contribute to pneumonia susceptibility, summarizes diagnostic recommendations, and reviews current guidelines for management of bacterial pneumonia in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Wong
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 1.434, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Scott E Evans
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1100, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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